10 BULLETIN 3 8, PUERTO RICO EXPERIMENT STATION 
seen on the outside of the intestinal wall usually indicate the location 
of the embedded head of the worm. Occasionally deaths are caused 
by peritonitis resulting from the head perforating the intestine and 
allowing the contents to escape into the abdominal cavity. 
Treatment. — There is no specific treatment known. 
Prevention. — Hogs should be prevented from feeding in marshes 
and along sluggish streams, not only to control infestations of this 
worm by means of the water beetle but also infestations with the liver 
fluke and the bloodsucking leeches. Infestations with this worm 
have not been found among hogs confined in unshaded, bare yards. 
Apparently the beetles are not attracted to these yards and there is no 
food for the grubs. Aside from the insertion of a ring in the nose of 
the pig to prevent rooting the best that can be done for pigs on pas- 
tures would be to harbor and protect the large nocturnal toad (Bufo 
marinus). As this toad has brought white grubs under control over 
thousands of acres of cane land, it should be useful in hog lots and 
gardens. Before the advent of this toad in 1920, herds of pigs were 
maintained in cane fields solely for the purpose of following the plow 
and eating the grubs. At present, the welfare of the pig should 
receive first consideration. 
PORK MEASLES OR PEPITA 
The pork bladderworm, Cysticercus cellulosae (fig. 2. C), is the in- 
termediate stage of a tapeworm of man. This cysticercus is round or 
oval in shape and about as large as a small bean. It consists of a cap- 
sule or cyst filled with a watery fluid. Inside the capsule as seen from 
the outside is a conspicuous white spot which indicates the location 
of the larval head (scolex) of the tapeworm. These cysts are usually 
located in the muscles. In a heavily infested animal they may be 
found in other tissues and embedded in the fat. 
Life history. — The eggs produced by the adult tapeworm in the 
human intestine are ingested by swine when human feces are not 
properly disposed of. As a pig may ingest several gravid segments 
of the tapeworm, which have passed at one time, and as each segment 
may contain many ripe eggs, heavy infestations may result and are 
not uncommon. Many thousands of cysts may occur in one carcass. 
Importance. — This parasite is of special importance because of its 
relation to public health, as the pork tapeworm is considered a dan- 
gerous parasite of man. The number of swine carcasses condemned 
at the abattoirs is not an indication of the prevalence of the pork 
bladderworm as the buyers of market hogs either avoid the districts 
where this disease is most common or inspect the animals for the cysts. 
Pepita seems to be more common in the region of Ponce and Mayaguez 
and most of the infested pigs are obtained from or can be traced to 
certain districts in the mountains. 
Symptoms and lesions. — The presence of cysticerci is usually not 
diagnosed in the live animals. However, a heavily infested pig can 
often be detected by palpating or by discerning the cysts underneath 
the lining membrane of the under surface of the tongue. 
Treatment, — Treatment, which is surgical, is not practical iu swine. 
Prevention. — To prevent infestation in swine, proper disposal of 
human excrement must be made. The thorough cooking of pork and 
